6 exercises for the youth of the soul and body

Make plans

“When we invest in the development and implementation of an exciting project, it gives us energy, adds interest in life, enriches it with new acquaintances and relationships,” lists psychologist Beatrice Milletr (Béatrice Millêtre). Unlike a dream or even a wish, a plan requires us to be clear about what we want and what actions we need to take to get it. For the goal to which we decide to go to be truly inspiring, it must correspond to our main life values.

1. Make a list of your main interests and hobbies that are close to you (culture, charity, sports…).
2. Ask yourself why you need to implement your plan. The more meaning you find in it, the more likely it is to become a reality and fill you with joy and energy.
3. Describe step by step how you will go to your goal.

For more information, see Beatrice Milletre, Six Clés pour se sentir enfin à sa place (Payot, 2014).

Keep your mind flexible

“Repetitive actions and thoughts cause the brain to lose plasticity over time,” says neuroscientist Maite Sauvet. That’s why it’s important to meet new people more often, listen to new ideas and points of view that are different from ours, and change daily habits: try new foods, cook new dishes, go to work and shop in other ways … Unusual activities that deliver us pleasure, activate our brain. “They help increase the production of dopamine, the hormone of desire and pleasure, which strengthens the connections between neurons, which means they improve memory and sharpen perception,” the scientist adds. Finally, she advises to excite our gray matter by becoming a little more demanding of ourselves. For example, if you like crosswords or chess, find other — more difficult — logic games; if you love to read, start writing reviews like you would a literary critic, or start an online blog about your hobby. In short, don’t let your brain get lazy.

For more details, see the personal Online Maite Owls.

• «Old age can be the happiest time of our lives»

stop regretting

“Doing what is important to us is an indispensable condition for a happy life,” says psychotherapist Frederic Fanget. In order to use the time allotted to us with benefit, he suggests imagining ourselves in our last moments. Imagine that today is the last day of your life, and ask yourself two questions.

1. What am I most proud of what I have done? Think about how you would like to be remembered by your loved ones.

2. What do I regret the most? “I should have interacted more with children”; “I never saw the world” … Your regrets can give impetus to the emergence of new plans, the implementation of which will fill life with meaning. Now make a list of everything you can do to achieve those goals and get started today.

See details on personal Online Frederick Fange.

Move like a turtle

“This exercise helps increase the flexibility of the body, especially the cervical spine,” says qigong teacher Nadine Crégut. “It improves blood circulation in the carotid and cerebral arteries, and also stimulates the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.” Thanks to this exercise, memory is strengthened, concentration increases, the risk of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s) is reduced.

1. In a standing or sitting position, press the tongue to the palate.

2. Pull in your chin while pulling your head up and slightly raising your shoulders.

3. Push your chin forward.

4. Return your chin to its original position through the bottom, allowing your shoulders to drop.

Perform movements smoothly, slowly, without stopping, but without straining. First, you draw a small circle with your head from top to bottom, «as if the turtle were spitting out water.» Then change direction to make it look like the turtle is drinking from the lake. Repeat daily 20 times in each direction.

For more information, see Qi gong pour mincir, la légèreté de l’être (Guy Trédaniel Éditeur, 2004) by Nadine Cregu.

Activate the flow of «chi»

This self-massage stimulates the movement of vital energy, which in Eastern culture is called «ki» or «chi». You will notice the effect immediately: it quickly improves complexion and digestion. “When qi moves freely in the body, all organs and systems work without failure,” emphasizes tai chi teacher Gregorio Manzur.

1. Massage your wrists, hands, fingers and warm up your palms by rubbing them together. Lightly spank yourself, moving from your head to your feet, and then back. Shake your hands to release tension.
2. Massage your face with your palms. Drum on the head with your fingertips, then pull yourself up by the hair (as Yankovsky-Munchausen bequeathed). Finish by vigorously rubbing your hands over your face and head.
3. Pinch the skin between the eyebrows with your thumb and forefinger and massage it. Then rotate your eyes clockwise and counterclockwise.
4. Place your palms on top of each other and massage your chest, solar plexus and abdomen in a circular motion.
5. Finish the massage with light stroking of the head, face, torso, arms and legs, including the feet. After that, join your palms in front of your chest and straighten up.

For details, see Gregorio Manzur’s book L’Art du combat avec son ombre (Albin Michel, 2010).

Stimulate the point of longevity

According to Chinese medicine, the point of longevity is between the knee and the lower leg. To determine its exact location, in a standing position, press your palms to your kneecaps. The tip of the middle finger will be in the right place. “Stimulation of the longevity point accelerates the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow,” says Shiatsu master Philippe Ronce. “This increases the overall tone of the body, the joints become more mobile, and the production of collagen increases.”

See Philippe Rons Bon Point au bon moment, manuel d’autoshiatsu (Guy Trédaniel Éditeur, 2014) for more details.